ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Several Muslim civil society organizations (CSOs) based in Region 9 are pushing for the postponement of the August 8 elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

The group that joined the postponement bandwagon and allowing

President Aquino to appoint ARMM caretakers are the Sulu Sultanate Advisory Council (SSAC) headed by Sansibar Hadjulani, Anak Sug Alliance for Peace and Progress (ASAPP) chaired by Moro National Liberation Front senior official Abu Amri Taddik; the 1-Alliance of Muslim Organizations to Reform ARMM (1-AMOR), led by interim president Hadji Mohammad Ersad “Bebot” Malli; Alliance of Metro Manila Tausugs represented by Omar Haruddin; and Basilan Advocate for Peace, Environment and Sustainable Development (BAPESDA) chaired by Modyr Tupay.

Leaders and members of the groups also trooped to Metro Manila for the rally as they joined others of the same persuasion.

They said they found nothing wrong with the President’s desire to synchronize the ARMM election with the mid-term poll in 2013 and replace the incumbent ARMM officials with officers-in-charge (OICs).